Flat gasket and method for the production thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a flat gasket, having at least one metallic layer in which at least one port is formed, the metallic layer or at least one of the metallic layers ( 1 ) being formed at least in regions in the form of an undulating and/or serrated profiling ( 2 ) around the port(s).

1. A gasket comprising
 a first metallic layer portion comprised of steel and having a bead formed therein, wherein said bead circumvents a port; and 
 a second metallic layer portion comprised of steel and including at least one region of undulating profiling extending at least part of the way around said port to form at least a portion of a deformation limiter for the bead, the undulating profiling and the bead being radially spaced, wherein said undulating profiling is defined, at least in part, by a material thickness between a first undulating surface and a second, generally opposing, undulating surface, the first undulating surface defining a wave crest generally radially aligned with a wave trough defined by the second undulating surface, the first undulating surface defining a wave trough generally radially aligned with a wave crest defined by the second undulating surface, and the first and second undulating surfaces defining a transition region extending between the wave crest and the wave trough, 
 wherein said material thickness of said undulating profiling is generally not constant such that the material thickness defines a taper formed within the transition region to a material thickness that is less than the material thickness of at least a portion of each of the wave crest and the wave trough, 
 and wherein the wave crest and the wave trough are both generally sinusoidal. 
 
     
     
       2. A gasket, as in  claim 1 , wherein said undulating profiling is swaged to form a wave having a taper. 
     
     
       3. A gasket, as in  claim 1 , wherein said undulating profiling includes a plurality of wave crests having spacings therebetween and a plurality of wave troughs. 
     
     
       4. A gasket, as in  claim 3 , wherein said wave crests vary in quantity around said port. 
     
     
       5. A gasket, as in  claim 3 , wherein said spacings between wave crests vary around said port. 
     
     
       6. A gasket, as in  claim 1 , wherein said material thickness is measured generally normal to at least one of said two generally opposing surfaces. 
     
     
       7. A gasket, as in  claim 1 , wherein said second metallic layer portion further comprises a bead circumventing said port. 
     
     
       8. A gasket, as in  claim 1 , further comprising a third metallic layer portion having a bead formed therein, wherein said bead circumvents the port. 
     
     
       9. A gasket, as in  claim 1 , wherein said wave crests are planished. 
     
     
       10. A gasket, as in  claim 1 , wherein said undulating profiling is plastically deformable. 
     
     
       11. A gasket comprising one or more steel layers circumventing a port, the one or more steel layers comprising:
 a first portion of one of the one or more steel layers having a bead formed therein, wherein said bead circumvents a port; and 
 a second portion of one of the one or more steel layers defining an undulating layer region extending around said port to form a deformation limiter for the bead and being spaced radially from said bead, the undulating layer region having a material thickness and defining a wave crest, a wave trough, and a transition region extending between said wave crest and said wave trough, 
 wherein said material thickness of said undulating layer region is generally not constant such that the material thickness defines a taper formed within the transition region to a material thickness that is less than the material thickness of at least a portion of each of the wave crest and the wave trough, 
 and wherein the wave crest and the wave trough are both generally sinusoidal. 
 
     
     
       12. A gasket, as in  claim 11 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are formed in one metallic layer. 
     
     
       13. A gasket, as in  claim 12 , wherein said one metallic layer is comprised of a spring steel or a cold deformable steel that hardens during tempering. 
     
     
       14. A gasket, as in  claim 11 , wherein the first portion is formed in a first metallic layer and the second portion is formed in a second metallic layer. 
     
     
       15. A gasket, as in  claim 14 , wherein said second metallic layer further comprises a bead circumventing said port. 
     
     
       16. A gasket, as in  claim 11 , wherein said undulating layer region is swaged to form a wave having a taper. 
     
     
       17. A gasket, as in  claim 11 , wherein said undulating layer region includes a plurality of wave crests having spacings therebetween and a plurality of wave troughs. 
     
     
       18. A gasket, as in  claim 17 , wherein said wave crests vary in quantity around said port. 
     
     
       19. A gasket, as in  claim 17 , wherein said spacings between wave crests vary around said port. 
     
     
       20. A gasket, as in  claim 11 , wherein said wave crests are planished. 
     
     
       21. A gasket, as in  claim 11 , wherein said undulating layer region is plastically deformable. 
     
     
       22. A gasket comprising one or more steel layers circumventing a port, the one or more steel layers comprising:
 a first portion of one of the one or more steel layers having a bead formed therein, wherein said bead circumvents a port; and 
 a second portion of one of the one or more steel layers defining an undulating layer region extending at least part of the way around said port to form at least a portion of a deformation limiter for the bead and being spaced radially from said bead, the undulating layer region having a material thickness and defining a wave crest, a wave trough, and a transition region extending between said wave crest and said wave trough, 
 wherein said material thickness of said undulating layer region is generally not constant such that the material thickness defines a taper formed within the transition region to a material thickness that is less than the material thickness of at least a portion of each of the wave crest and the wave trough, 
 and wherein the wave crest and the wave trough are both generally sinusoidal. 
 
     
     
       23. A gasket comprising one or more steel layers circumventing a port, the one or more steel layers comprising:
 a first portion of one of the one or more steel layers having a bead formed therein, wherein said bead circumvents a port; and 
 a second portion of one of the one or more steel layers defining an undulating layer region extending around said port to form a deformation limiter for the bead and being spaced radially from said bead, the undulating layer region having a material thickness and defining a wave crest, a wave trough, and a transition region extending between said wave crest and said wave trough, 
 wherein said material thickness of said undulating layer region is generally not constant such that the material thickness defines a taper formed within the transition region to a material thickness that is less than the material thickness of at least a portion of each of the wave crest and the wave trough, 
 and wherein at least one of the number of waves, the profile heights, and the spacing between wave crests are varying in different regions of the circumference around a port.